Tank-car underframe.



J. M. ROHLFING.

TANK GAR UNDERFRAME. APPLIOATIONI'ILED M13131, 1910.

Patented May 30, 1911.

J. M. ROHLFING. TANK GAR UNDERFRAME.

APPLIOATION mum MAR. 31. 1910.

Patented May 30, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I residing at St. Louis,

' UNITED sTArnsPigrENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. nonnrme, or s1". LOUIS, MISSOURI; A'ssIenoR TO AMERICAN CAR AND FOUNDRY COMPANY, or sr. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY.

TANK-CAR unnnnranivm.

To. all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. ROHLFING, Missouri, and being a citizen of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tank-Car Underframesfof which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enableothersskilled in the art to which it appertains to makefand to use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferred 'form of the invention, though it is tobe unclosed and rated by line 4-4ofbFig derstood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that various modifications thereof will occur to persons skilled in the art. r If;

In said drawings: Figure l is a top plan view of an underframe enrbodying the features of the present invention the tank being omitted. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation thereof, parts beingseen in sections on the planeindicated by line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transversevertical section on the plane indicated by line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in theidirection of the arrow. Fig. 4 is a similar section on the plane indi- 1, looking in the same direction. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail vertical section illustrating the connection ietween the tank and the bolsters.

Referring to the drawing by numerals:

- 1, 1 indicates end castings, ea'ch comprising the usual buffer or striking plate, the diagonal braces, the draft sills and the bolsters all cast integral after the manner fully discovered in United States Letters Patent 943,803 issued to Herbert W. Wolfl' with recesses 3, 3 into which extcn tank under date of December 21, 1909. Each of said bolsters has its up er surface curved to form a cradle for tan 2 and is rovided projec tions 4, 4 depending from near each end of tank 2, the said pro'ections 4 being formed integral with curved plate 5 riveted to the tank 2. Said projections 4 fitting sufficient-l loosely into recesses ,3 to accommodate suc slight longitudinal expansion and contraction of the tank as may develop while insuring transmission of such draft stresses to the as may be necessary to overcome the inertia of the tank and its contents. Projecting inwardly from each of the castings 1 is the flanged extension or casing 6, and extending inwardly from each of the Specification of Letters mat. Application filed March 31, 1910.

Patented May 3 1911. Serial no. 552,740. a

y casings or extensions (Sis a tubular projection 7 having annular grooves 8, 8. A tubular beam E) extends from one casing 6 to the other, and has its ends butting against the vertical walls of said casing and surrounding the respective tubular projections T. The material of the beam 9 is depressed forming annular rings 10, .10 extending into the grooves 8 forming a connecting means between the beam 0 and the end castings 1 for maintaining the relative positions there- 0t and for insuring the transmission of butting stresses through said beam 9. A cross bearer 1.1 extends transversely of beam 9 sub stantially midway of the length thereof, and is formed with a central opening 12 for accommodating beam 9, and through which the beam 9 extends without engaging the cross bearer. The cross bearer 11 comprises a cradle 13 riveted to the tank 2, and having depcndii'lg posts and braces connecting the cradle with a bottom arch 14, the terminals of the arch being formed into saddles 15, Obviously, cross bearer 11 may be formed in various ways but is preferably a casting formed of a flanged web producing the elc ments above mentioned and providing the aperture .12 for accommodating beam 9. Truss rods 16, 16 are anchored at their ends in extensions 6, by being passed through webs thereof and engaged by suitable nuts and the intermediate portions of the truss rods 16 extend beneath and engage the sad dles 15, the rods being spread transversely to engage said saddles as thc'saddlcs are a greater distance apart than the distance be tween the points of engagement of the ends of the truss rods with the respective extensions 6. Thus in addition to taking up the tension stresses, rods 16 serve also to offer a proportionate centering stress. Extending centrally throughout tubular beam 9 s a rod 17 which extends through the respective projections 7 and through the vertical wall of extension 6 and is provided at each end with a retaining nut. Rod 17 is thus disposed for taking up draft stresses.

What I claim is:

1. In an undeittrame, the combination with buflers of a continuous single hollow beam for taking up buffing stress'esthore from, and independent means for taking up draft stresses.

2. In an underframe, the combination -with draft and bufling means of a continuous single hollow beam connecting the same for taking up the buffing stresses, and'independent means connecting the same for transmitting draft stresses.

In an underframe, the combination with bolsters of'a tubular beam disposed between said bolsters for taking up buffing stresses, and a rod connecting the bolsters for transmitting draft stresses.

4. In an nnderframe, the combination With bolsters ofa tubular beam connecting same, and a rod having its ends connected to the bolsters and extending throughout the tubular beam.

5 In an underframe, bolsters, a center beamconnecting the same, a cross bearer extending across and independent of said center beam, and truss rods connected to the bolsters and engaging said cross bearer.

6. .In an underframe, the combination of bolsters and acenter beam connecting the same, a cross bearer intermediate the length'of said center beam independent. of the bolsters, and truss rods connected at their ends to the bolsters and spread intermediate their length into engagement with said cross bearer.

1 7L In an underframe, the combination withbolsters, and a connecting center beam therefor, of a cross bearer intermediate the length of the bolster and independent there of, and a truss rod connected to the bolsters 3 and engaging said cross bearer.

8. In an nnderframe, the combination 351 with bolsters, and a connecting beam there- 'for, of across bearer intermediate the length of the beam and independent thereof, and trussing means connecting the cross bearer to the bolsters.

9. In an underframe, the combination With bolsters, and a connecting beam therefor, of a cross bearer intermediate the length of the beam and independenet thereof, and trnssing means for the cross bearer.

10.'In an nnderframe, the combination with bolsters, and a connecting beam therefor, of a cross-bearer extending across the beam intermediate the length thereof and formed with an opening, for the passage of the beam, of sufficientsize for accommodating independent movement of the parts, and trnssing means for the cross bearer.

11. In a tank car, the combination with bolsters, and a beam connecting the same, of a cross bearer intermediate the length and independent of the beam, trussin means for the cross bearer, and a tam:

ionntcd upon the said bolsters and cross bearer.

12. In a tank car, the combination with bolsters, and a connecting beam therefor, ot' a cross bearer intermediate the length and independent of the beam, trnssing means for the cross bearer, and a tank mounted on said bolsters, and cross bearer, and means con-- necting the tank to the cross bearer.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses. JOHN M. 'ROHLFING. IVitnesses OSCAR Hoominno, CARL ENGLISH.

(topicsv of this patent may be obtained for fivecents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. v Washington, D. G. 

